Making One Hundred Brachot Daily

2014-09-21T14:35:37Z

Nitzhak: just fixed a spelling mistake. form whole to while in footnote 11

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==Origin of the obligation==
# Some hold that this law is a biblical obligation, while others hold it's of rabbinic origin. <ref> See Sh"t Atret Paz 1:1 at length. The Chida (Machzik Bracha 290:1) writes that going out of the way to complete a hundred [[Brachot]] daily is only a virtuous practice. However, the Petach Dvir 290:3, Sdei Chemed (Chet 34), and Sh"t Atret Paz 1:1 write that it’s a complete obligation. [Chazon Ovadyah ([[Shabbat]] vol 2 pg 339) writes that even the Chida may mean that it’s only virtuous to go out of the way to make the Bracha oneself but accumulating a hundred (including [[Brachot]] one listens to such as the [[Brachot]] of Torah reading) is an obligation.] Tur 46 also says this obligation is also rabbinic and the pasuk brought in menachot 43b is an asmachta. The Arizal in Shaar Ruach Hakodesh 4a says that there is a level in blessing in heaven that the only way to get to it is saying 100 [[berachot]] each day. Kitzur S"A 6:7 writes that a person is obligated to make a hundred [[brachot]] daily.</ref>
# There are several sources and reasons given for this law including:
## David Hamelech made an institution to say 100 [[berachot]] a day to stop the plague that was killing a 100 people every day. <ref> Bamidbar Rabba Parasha 18, Tur 46 quoting Rabbi Natronai Gaon, Daat Zekenim MeBaalei Tosfot (Devarim 10:12) </ref>
## The Gematria of each letter of צדיק/tzaddik - 90 / צ [[amen]]'s a day, 4 / ד Kedushos a day, 10 / י [[amen]] yehiy shemei rabba's, and 100 / ק [[berachot]] a day.<ref>The [http://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=34973&st=&pgnum=357 Reishit Chachma (Shaar HaKedusha ch. 17 s.v. BePrat)] writes that the letters of Tzaddik are a hint to saying 90 amens, 4 Kedushot, 100 [[Brachot]], 10 Kadishim. Part of this hint, the Reishit Chachma derives from the Zohar (Tikkunim page 29). </ref>
## Corresponding to the one hundred sockets of the mishkan.<ref>The Baal HaTurim (Shemot 38:27) writes that the institution of reciting 100 [[brachot]] each day corresponds to the 100 sockets of the Mishkan.</ref>
## The gemara (Menachot 43b) learns from the Pasuk (Devarim 10:12) "וְעַתָּה֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מָ֚ה ה' אֱלֹקיךָ שֹׁאֵ֖ל מֵֽעִמָּ֑ךְ כִּ֣י אִם־לְ֠יִרְאָה" and says that we shouldn't read it as "מה" (what) but instead "me'ah" (100). <ref> Rashi Menachot 43b</ref> The exposition may be based on the fact that the verse has 100 letters<ref> Tosafot Menachot 43b "shoel" suggest that it is because the verse has 100 letters. </ref> or because Mah in gematria using At-Bash is 100.<ref>Daat Zekenim MeBaalei HaTosfot (Devarim 10:12), Baal HaTurim (Devarim 10:12). See further in the Baal HaTurim who says that it can be based on the gematria of ממך being 100 (but requires further explanation).</ref>
## Moshe received it as a Halacha LeMoshe MeSinai <ref> See Sh"t Yosef Ometz 50 in name of Sefer Charedim, Sh"t Atret Paz 1:1 quotes this and discusses whether it is on a deoraitta obligation </ref>
## The pasuk says "Ki Ken Yivorach Gaver" (Tehillim 128:4) and since "Ki Ken" has the gemara of 100, the pasuk can be read to say that a person blesses 100 times a day.<ref>Daat Zekenim MeBaalei HaTosfot (Devarim 10:12)</ref>

==Practically how to get to 100==
Here's a basic breakdown of how you might say 100 [[berachot]] in a day:
*Hamapil (1)
*[[Shacharit]] (48)
**Birchat Hashachar (15)
**[[Tefilin]] (2)
**[[Tzitzit]] (1)
**[[Asher Yatzar]] (1)
**Al Netilat Yadim (1)
**Elokay Neshama (1)
**[[Birchot HaTorah]] (3)
**Baruch She'amar (1)
**Yishtabach (1)
**Birchot Shema (3)
**Shemona Esrei (19)
*[[Mincha]] (19)
**[[Shemoneh Esrei]] (19)
*[[Mariv]] (24)
**[[Berachot]] before Shema (2)
**[[Berachot]] after Shema (3)
**Shemona Ersrei (19)
*Hamotzi meal (6)
**Al netilat yadim (1)
**Hamotzi (1)
**[[Birkat hamazon]] (4)
*4 of your choice
**[[Shehakol]]
**[[Mezonot]]
**Ha'eytz
**Ha'adama
**Borei nefashot
**Al hamichya
**Asher yatzar
**Oseh ma'aseh bereyshit
<ref> Magan Avraham 46:8, Mishna Brurah 46:14 </ref>

==How is a day counted?==
# There is a dispute whether we count a day for the purposes of this halacha starting from the night starting from the day. The majority of poskim hold that the count of a hundred [[Brachot]] starts at night. <ref> Sh"t Atret Paz 1:1 writes that it seems from most rishonim that we count from the day to the night, however he writes that it seems from Bet Yosef and Mishna Brurah that we count from the night to the day based on the fact that they begin their count of the [[brachot]] from HaMapil. Additionally, Sh"t Betzel Chachmah 4:155 proved from the poskim's counting of the [[brachot]] on [[Shabbat]] that we count from the nighttime. Sefer Ha'itim 195 says that the count starts from the morning and finishes the next morning. If one brought [[shabbat]] in early Rabbi Shimon Sofer in Hitorerut [[Teshuva]] 3:502 says that the [[berachot]] count for the count of [[shabbat]], while Sh"t Bitzel Hachochma 4:155 says they count for the previous day. According to Rav Stern in Bitzel Hachochma, one would need to make up all [[berachot]] recited before [[shabbat]] starts, including the 7 of the shemoneh esrei and 4 of kriat shema, and if he starts the meal then those [[berachot]] as well. </ref>
==Who's obligated?==
# Some poskim say that women aren't obligated in making a hundred [[brachot]] daily since it's a time-bound positive obligation, <ref> Halichot Bayta 13:note 2 in name of Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, Sh”t Teshuvot VeHanhagot 2:129, Sh”t Shevet HaKehati 3:63, Birkat Eitan (pg 62), Vezot HaBracha (pg 185, chapter 20), Sh”t Ateret Paz 1:1, Shevet HaLevi 5:23, and Sh”t Rivevot Efraim 3:47, 5:114 write that a women is exempt and some base it on the Magen Avraham regarding Zecher Yetziat Mitzrayim in Shema who disagrees with the Shagat Aryeh. </ref> while others say that they are as obligated as men. <ref> Rav Elyashiv in Yashiv Moshe (pg 19) and Birkat Eitan (pg 61), **Rav Herschel Schachter in “Women at [[Prayer]]” at yu.edu, Rav Ovadyah in Halichot Olam (vol 1 pg 59), Halacha Berura 46:8 and Yalkut Yosef (Otzer Dinim LeIsha pg 75), and Halichot Bat Yisrael (end of chapter 14) write that a women is obligated since it’s a obligation that applies the whole day and is renewed every day similar to the Shagat Aryeh regarding Zecher Yetziat Mitzrayim in Shema. see Contemporary Questions In Halacha and Hashkafa pg. 106 where he quotes opinions on both sides as well</ref>

==What counts as a bracha?==
# If one is unable to accumulate a hundred [[brachot]] on [[Shabbat]] or [[Yom Tov]] one can listen to the [[brachot]] of Torah reading with intent to accumulate a hundred [[brachot]]. <ref> The Magan Avraham 46:8 writes that one should only rely on accumulating a hundred [[Brachot]] using [[Brachot]] that one heard from the [[Brachot]] on Torah reading if one is unable to make the [[Brachot]] oneself by eating snacks. This is also the opinion of the S”A HaRav 46, and Mishna Brurah 46:14. See Sh"t Yabia Omer 8:23:24. </ref>
# Some say that answering [[Zimmun]] is considered one of a person’s hundred [[Brachot]] every day. <Ref> Sefer Keysad Mezamnin 1:22 </ref>
# Some count the "Baruch Elokenu" in Ein KeElokenu as a bracha to make up to a hundred [[brachot]]. <Ref> Taz 46 </ref>
# If one extends his third meal on [[Shabbat]] some hold that the [[brachot]] of [[benching]] aren't counted towards the hundred [[brachot]] of that day, while others consider it as part of the [[brachot]] of [[Shabbat]]. <ref> If one extends the third meal of [[Shabbat]] past the time of sunset, Chazon Ovadyah ([[Shabbat]] vol 2 pg 337) and Sh”t Shevet HaLevi 5:23 hold that the [[brachot]] one makes during the meal and the [[Birkat HaMazon]] count towards the hundred [[brachot]] of [[Shabbat]]. However, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Sh”t Minchat Shlomo 2:4:27, Halichot Shlomo ([[tefillah]] 22:23)) writes that it doesn't count towards the hundred [[brachot]] of [[Shabbat]]. </ref>

==Getting to a hundred on [[Shabbat]] and [[Yom Tov]]==
# Because we don't say a [[Shemoneh Esrei]] of 19 [[brachot]] but rather of 7, one should try to accumulate a hundred through having snacks. <ref> S"A 290:1</ref>
# According to the Mishna Brurah one is only lacking 13 [[Brachot]] on [[Shabbat]]. <ref> Mishna Brurah 46:14 </ref> The following is the Mishna Brurah's count of 87 [[Brachot]]:
* HaMapil (1)
* Asher yatzer (1)
* [[Netilat yadayim]] (1)
* [[Brachot]] Hashachar (15)
* Elokai Nishama (1)
* [[Brachot]] Hatorah (3)
* Baruch SheAmer (1)
* Yishtabach (1)
* [[Tzitzit]] or [[Talit]] (1)
* [[Brachot]] [[Kriyat Shema]] of [[Shacharit]] (3)
** 2 before Shema
** 1 after Shema
* [[Brachot]] [[Kriyat Shema]] of [[Maariv]] (4)
** 2 before Shema
** 2 after Shema
* [[Shemoneh Esrei]] (28)
** [[Maariv]] (7)
** [[Shacharit]] (7)
** [[Mussaf]](7)
** [[Mincha]] (7)
* 3 Meals with [[Benching]] on wine (24) each one including
** [[Netilat Yadayim]] (1)
** [[Hamotzei]] (1)
** [[Benching]] (4)
** Hagafen and Al Hagefen (2)
* [[Kiddish]] (3)
** at night, HaMekadesh HaShabbat and HaGafen (2)
** during the day, HaGafen (1)
# For the laws of making one hundred [[Brachot]] on [[Yom Kippur]] see the [[Yom Kippur#Making one hundred Brachot|Yom Kippur]] page.
==Making an unnecessary bracha==
# It is forbidden to make an unnecessary bracha in order to get to a hundred [[brachot]]. <ref> Magan Avraham 46:8 based on gemara in Yoma 70a which prohibits the recitation of unnecessary [[brachot]]. </ref>

==Is intent (Kavanah) required?==
# Some hold that no specific intent is required when saying [[brachot]] in order to fulfill the mitzvah of making a hundred [[brachot]]. However, one must make sure to make the bracha with the proper Kavana of the words or at least intent that one is speaking before Hashem in order that one fulfill the mitzvah of a hundred [[brachot]]. <ref> Rabbi Dovid Aharon Brizman (Av Bet Din Philadelphia) in Vol. 59 No. 1 Tishrei 5766 pg 4-5 writes that since the entire mitzvah of making a hundred [[brachot]] is meant to inspire Yirat Hashem one doesn't need specific intent to fulfill the mitzvah and making the [[brachot]] with Kavanah is sufficient. However, he does quote the Yaavetz and [[Seder]] HaYom who hold that a bracha without intent doesn't count for this mitzvah. Nonetheless, he suggests that perhaps intent that one is speaking before Hashem suffices (like the Grach in Hilchot [[Tefillah]]). </ref>

==Sources==
<references/>
[[Category:Brachot]]
[[Category:Prayer]]

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Making One Hundred Brachot Daily